St. Mary’s of Lancaster captures first soccer state championship in program history

Buffalo, NY - There was plenty to celebrate for the St. Mary’s of Lancaster Lady Lancers soccer team Saturday afternoon, as they completed their undefeated season with a 2-1 victory over St. Anthony’s to capture their first CHSAA soccer championship in program history at Canisius University’s Demske Sports Complex.

“I think this was very well deserved for this group,” said Brittany Steele, now completing her 10th season as head coach of the team. “This senior class of eleven players really bought in. Even from their freshman year, falling short every year gives them a little more motivation to put forth the effort to win a state championship. It took the senior class to lead, but we have exceptional underclassmen who have done a really good job stepping up in big moments to help put us in this position to win.”

One of those underclassmen was freshman striker Marley Skalski, who scored what would be the game winning goal for the Lancers in the 59th minute of play off a pass from Willow Baldree. “I saw a gap open, and I called for the ball,” said Skalski postgame. “There was a gap between me and the goalkeeper, I just put the ball in between her and the goal, it was exciting.”

Skalski also set up the game’s first goal, where she raced past a Friars defender, tripped on the ball, regained her balance, and laid out a pass for senior Michaela Panella in the box, and the University of Wisconsin commit placed a hard shot on net that Friars goalkeeper Addison McCarthy got her hands on, but the ball would continue to spin and crossed the line to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead in the game’s 11th minute. “It wasn’t the best shot, but a goal is a goal,” Panella remarked. “I saw there was a lot of space open on the left side, and I saw Marley driving down the right side. Nine times out of ten she beats the defender, so I kept my run going. I called for the ball, and when it came to me, I was going to shoot it. I hit it as hard as I could and it went through the keeper’s hands. It was like no other feeling, I was so excited.”

St. Anthony’s had multiple opportunities in the first half, including a shot from the top of the 18 yard box in the 21st minute that was denied by the left hand of Lancers senior goalkeeper Abby Pohlman. They eventually broke through in the 61st minute of the game with a goal off from junior midfielder Samantha Maurino to cut the lead to 2-1.

Pohlman, along with Panella, made some key stops in the late moments of the game to preserve the lead for St. Mary’s. “Anthony’s made it hard for us,” said coach Steele. “The ability for our team to work together in really tough moments, even though we’ve had the lead for the majority of the game, shows how bad they wanted it. Abby has gotten out of her comfort zone each and every year, and that is absolutely what she did today. I’m very proud, she did an excellent job holding down the goal along with our backline and midfielders.”

“We’re always working super hard,” said Pohlman. “I have moments where I’m not doing anything, so once an opportunity comes to come out and make those saves, it helps keep the team up so we’re not behind.”

The Friars had gotten the best of St. Mary’s in the previous two state championship games, including a 3-0 game in last year’s final, which made this victory a little sweeter for St Mary’s. “It feels great, the two years where we were on the other end of it, and then being able to beat them and sending them home. Being at home, it makes it ten times better,” said Pohlman.

Alex Kolstee/WNYAthletics